KIRKLAND. Wash. – The exciting start to the Columbia men’s tennis season hit another benchmark this week, as the Lions were ranked No. 24 in the most recent CTO/MDTA Division I Men’s Coaches Poll released on February 4.

“This is a terrific achievement for Columbia tennis,” commented head coach Bid Goswami. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers and great to be ranked in the top 25 with so many good Division I schools. We have a very dedicated and hardworking group and I am very happy for them and very proud of our team"

The Coaches Poll, managed by College Tennis Online and the Men’s Division I Tennis Association, is in its first year of existence. The ranking is the highest of any poll for the Lions since 1987 when they were slotted as high as 17th before finishing the season ranked No. 23 following a trip to the NCAA Championships.

"This national ranking means a lot because it is based on a broad vote of NCAA Division I head coaches, individuals who live college tennis every day,” said associate head coach Howard Endelman. “Our players are starting to develop the attitude that 'Columbia competes with class, but we are not going to back down from anyone.' This is a good start."

Columbia’s men’s tennis program has seen quite the national ascension over the last few seasons. The Lions were slotted as high as 33rd in last season’s ITA poll and are 40th in the ITA’s Feb. 4, 2014 poll. As a team, Columbia is 5-1, with shutouts in its three most recent matches against Washington, Georgia State and DePaul. The only loss of the season was a close defeat to then-No. 3 Georgia at the ITA Kick-Off Classic.

Individual student-athletes also continue to be ranked among the nation’s best. Columbia’s top singles player, Winston Lin, is 19-2 overall and 5-0 in dual matches this season after entering the spring ranked eighth in the nation. Ashok Narayana and Max Schnur, the 2013 National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships doubles champions stand at No. 14.

Columbia will take this weekend off from competition before heading to the ECAC Championships in Hanover, N.H. from Feb. 14-16.